A scorching start to summer will see temperatures of up to 30C during a two-week heatwave as bookies slash the odds on Britain’s hottest June since record began.
This weekend is expected to see Britain hotter than Turkey, Spain, Greece and the south of France after the showers and gales that ruined half-term disappear.
Bookies Coral have cut the odds on Brits enjoying their hottest June since records began in 1910 from 5-1 to 3-1, while Ladbrokes have slashed the odds from 20-1 to 6-1.
Coral spokeswoman Nicola McGeady said: “After a disappointing May, the odds suggest that summer is finally arriving.
"With sizzling temperatures expected to last throughout June, we think it could be the hottest in British history.”
The hottest June so far came during the 1976 heatwave when the mercury hit 35.6C (96F) in Southampton.
The mercury will start to rise gradually from Wednesday (June 3) for what is predicted to be the hottest weekend of the year so far.
Forecaster Alex Burkill said: "On Wednesday things start to pick up and it is turning much warmer and drier by Thursday (June 4) where we should see temperatures into the mid 20Cs.
“By the weekend it is looking pretty warm or even hot with temperatures of 28C or even higher possible in parts.”
Heatwave
The winds will break by Thursday being replaced by temperatures of 19C to 20C for much of England and Wales and up to 24C in the south east.
The Met Office said by Friday and Saturday this could rise to between 25C and 30C in southern hot spots.
Jim Dale, forecaster for British Weather Services, said: “We are definitely looking at heatwave conditions with 30C very possible by the end of the week.
“After a pretty ropey May this is certainly overdue, there is some quite unseasonably warm weather on the way.
“It is not unlikely that this will be one of the hottest starts to summer.”
The blazing start to the season could be a sign of things to come with forecasts suggesting a glorious summer ahead.
The forecast, designed to assist local authorities plan around the weather, states: “For June near- to above-average temperatures are most likely.
Met Office figures show May was cooler and wetter than normal with an average temperature of 9.6C and 91.7mm (3.6ins) of rainfall.
In the north, with a risk of further Atlantic low pressure systems tracking northeastwards to bring spells of rain and some fairly strong winds at times.
The combinations of these elements will likely lead to lower temperatures than would be expected for early June.
Further south there is a greater chance conditions will stay drier for longer, with temperatures reaching nearer to what would normally be expected during June.
Originally published on Mirror Online.
